Casting rod



- Mmh 26, 1940.

i L. c. co| E CASTING ROD Filed oet. 9, 19:57

3V Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR L dan L'. ale

,K /ATTORNEY f ffl/Iliff! L. C. COLE March 26, 1940.

CASTING ROD V Filed Oct. 9 1937 3 Sheetsheet 2,

lIIVVEAITOR. i [Lyndh 1122715'` BY y MMM? ATTORNEY March 26, 1940. L.. c. COLE kAsTnm non Filed oct. 9, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet -5 'i INVENTOR.

Lg/120271 Z 701e .l B V AYTTORNY Patented Mar. 26,

UNITED lSTATT-:s PATENT oI-Fnziz Lyndon C. Cole, Hamilton, Ohio Application October 9, 1937, Serial No. 168,165

7 Claims.

This invention relates to shing rods and particularly to a casting rod having improved reel -'mounting means and means to house the rod for storage or shipment. i

A primary object of the invention is to provide a casting rod the butt or handleportion of which is hollow and into which the stick portion may be retracted from its operative or casting position Another object of the invention is to provide a butt portion having an internally threaded portion at its forward end fitting an externally threaded portion on the rear end of the stick portion, there being also an internally threaded portionin the rear end of the butt into which the stick vmay be screwed during transportation of l the complete casting rod. l

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved reel clamping device and support on the butt, the reel being supported in oblique angular position so that the axis of rotation of the winding crank of the reel will be lowered to an extent to bring/it substantially into intersecting relation to the axis of the stick. The center of gravity of the reel by this angular position will be materially lowered.

And finally it is an object to provide a metal tubular casing -for the rod threaded to the butt and having a flexible bag portion thereon within which the butt portion may be enclosed.

With the above and other objects in view the invention includes the features of construction and operation set forth in the following specication and illustrated in the following drawings.

In the accompanying drawings annexed hereto and forming a part of this specification, I have shown theinvention in a preferred form of light casting rod but it will be understood that the invention can be otherwise embodied and that the drawings are not to be construed as defining or limiting the scope of the invention, the claims appended to this specification being relied upon for that purpose.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the handle and reel supporting portion of the rod.

Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal section of the parts shown in Fig. l.

Figs. 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 respectively are sections taken upon the planes of lines 3 3, 4 4, 5 5, 6--6 and 1 1 in Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 8 is alongitudinal central sectional view of the handle and reel supporting portions with the stick retracted and secured in position for carrying and shipping. y

(ci. 43-18) i Figs. 9 and l0 are intermediate and tip end portions respectively of the stick shown .within the carrier for the complete rod.

Fig. 1l is a fragmentary transverse View of the handle portion and reel clamp.

Fig. 12 is a sectional view taken upon the plane of line |2-|2 in Fig. 8.

Fig. 13 is a plan view of the reel clamping portion of the handle. l

Fig. 14 is an outside view of the case within which the entire rod may be housed, and

Fig. l5 is a detail view of the closing means for the case.

In the above mentioned drawings there has been shown but one embodiment of the invention. which is now deemed preferable, but it is to be understood that changes and modications may be made within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Briefly, and in its tion may include the following principal parts: first, a butt portion having a handle portion at its rear end, a reel clamp intermediate its length and rod securing portion and means to mount a case or housing to enclose the rod at its forward end; second,.a rod or stick adapted to be threaded into the forward end of the butt when in operative position and in the rearward end of the butt when the rod is being carried; third, a

case comprising a metal tube enclosing the stick closed at its outer ,end and secured detachably to the butt, there being a flexible bag attached to this tube for enclosing the handle; fourth,

a reel mounting for the butt supporting the reel 3 in an oblique angular position so that the reel crossbar on which the users thumb rests to control the casting of the line may assume a natural position while grasping the handle of the butt.

Referring more in detail to the figures of the drawings I show the improved handle or butt portion of the casting rod most clearly in Figs. l and 2. The body portion I of this butt is in the form of a c'ast or otherwise formed member` of metal such as aluminum or one of its alloys forV minimum weight and suitable strength. The central portion of this member l0 forms the reel rest the clamping surface ll of which is disposed at a pronounced oblique angle to the axis of the handle portion I2 and the stick securing end i3. As shown in Figs. land 2 the surface li at one end has a lug I to retain the reel I6 by engagement with one end of its plate ll. The opposite end of the reel plate Il engages under a clamping screw I8 mounted within the hand1 preferredaspect, the invenn' end of the butt. To clamp or unclamp the reel I6 by the screw I8 it is only necessary to rotate the nut I9 which engages screw I8 within a portion of the butt I0.

At the lower end of screw I8 is a laterally extending foot piece I8a. In the reel clamping position of the screw the laterally extended portion of foot piece I8a engages over one end of the reel plate I1 and holds the reel I6 rmly in position. In the upper position of the screw I8 the foot piece Ia prevents the screw I8 from being completely withdrawn from the' butt Il).r

Preferably and as shown in the gures the foot piece I8a may be secured to the screw I8 by means of a small transversely extending taper pm.

In operative position the reel I6 has its central axis lowered materially so that the hand of the user assumes a comfortable position in which the thumb may rest as shown on the crossbar I 6a of the reel.

'I'he handle portion I2 of the butt is hollow as shown and has mounted thereon a gripping sleeve 20 of rubber, cork or other desirable moulded. or built up material. At the rear end of the handle is pinned a head portion 2| preferably of metal and having an internally threaded portion 22. The rear face of this handle end 20 may be closed by means of a small disc 23y set into the threaded opening through the head portion 2I and crimped in position. n v

At the forward end of the butt I is the stick attaching and retaining construction disposed within the substantially cylindrical portion I3.`

The rear end of the stick or rod proper 25 is provided with a metal sleeve 26 closely surrounding the sectional wooden stick 25. The outer surface ofthis sleeve is slightly tapered at its forward end and at its rear end is provided with screw threads 21. This metal may be built up upon the stick 25 or separately made and permanently secured to the stick at its rear end.

Housed securely within the end I3 of the butt I0 is a sleeve 28 having its inner surface tapered to fit the sleeve 26. Also housed within the end I3 is a nut 29 threaded to fit the threads 21 on the stick 25. The nut 29 is freely rotatable within a transverse slot formed inthe end I3 so that by rotation of this' nut the stick 25 is firmly engaged with the sleeve 26 in close contact with sleeve 28. In this position the stick 25 is in operative or casting positionand is rmly retained in the butt I0.

To carry the assembled rod more conveniently provision is made for housing the end of the stick 25 within the handle I3. For this purpose the reel I6 is removed and the clamping screw I8 raised to provide a clear opening into the tubular handle portion I2. By rotating the nut 29 the stick 25 may be released and retracted so that its threaded rear end 21 may enter and engage the threads 22 within the handle end piece 2|. In the retracted position of the stick the over-all length of the casting rod is materially reduced.

To protect the entire rod while it is being shippedvor carried the stick 25 may be housed within a metal tube 35 shown sectionally in Figs. 8, 9 and l0. 'I'he outer end of this tube 35 is closed as shown in Fig. and its diameter is such that the stick with its tip 36 and eyelets 31 for the line may be enclosed, limited freedom of movement only being possible. The rearv end of thetube 35 has av collar 38 tted and retained therein, the inner surface of this collar being threaded as shown in Fig. 8. When in position over the stick 25 the collar 38 has its threads in engagement with threads 39 upon the end I3 of the butt I 0.

Attached to the open end of the tube 35 is a flexible bag 40 of chamois fabric or other material, there being an opening extending a major portion of the length of the bag which may be closed by a slidable fastener 4I. If desired a hasp 42 may be attached to the slidable fastener 4I engaging over a loop 43 secured to the tube 35. By means of this hasp and loop a lock 44 may be mounted as shown in Fig. 14 to prevent tampering with any part of the rod.

For convenience the butt I0 may have a nger loop 44 within which the foreilnger may be placed while holding thejrod for casting. 'I'he drawings show a stick of wood made up of a plurality of triangular sections. It will be understood, however, that a hollow steel or other form of stick may be substituted for the one shown.

In operation the rod during casting is grasped as indicated in Fig. l. natural position with the thumb resting on the cross bar I6a of the reel I6 and with the forefinger in the rear upper `angular portion of the finger loop 44. The tip of the thumb rests on the spool of the reel over which the line is wound. By the angular disposition of the reel I6 the distance between the portion of the finger loop 44 engaged by the forenger and the cross bar I6a engaged by the thumb is not increased but is such that the hand may assume an entirely natural grasping position during casting without requiring the thumb to be extended to a strained position. The axis of rotation of the crank handle, however, and the center of gravity of the reel are brought down nearer the center line of the entire handle and closer to the hand of the I claim as my invention: 1. A fishing rod comprising in combination, a butt member having a handle portion, a reel rest 'and stick attaching portion, said reel rest having tion being hollow whereby said stick may be retracted and partially housed thereby, and means at the rear of said butt member to secure said stick in its partially housed position therein.

3. A fishing :ad comprising in combination, a butt member having a hollow handle portion, a reel rest and clamping member on said butt member. a stick detachably attached at one end of said butt member when in operative position, and means at the rear of said butt member to detachably attach said stick partially within said butt when in shipping position, whereby said stick extends through the entire length of said butt member.

-4. A shing rod comprising in combination. a butt member having a hollow handle portion, a reel rest and clamping member on said butt member, a tapered portion adjacent the forward end of said butt member, a stick having a tapered portion iltting the tapered portion of said butt member and adapted to be `partially housed within said butt member, means to detachably secure said stick in position in said butt member with said tapered portions in engagement one The fingers assume a alarmas with the other, and securing means at the rear of said. butt member to retain said stick 1n its" partially housed position.

5. A fishing rod comprising in combination, a butt member, a stick slidably mounted within said member to advanced and retracted positions thereon, means at the forward end of said butt member to lock said stick in advanced position,y

and a stick mounted on said butt member and slidabie Within said butt member to engage one of said threaded members and said tapered portion when in operative position and the other threaded member when in carrying position.

7. A fishing rod comprising in combination, a

Y butt member, a stick slidable 'within said butt member, threaded members provided at the forward and rear ends of said member for mounting said stick respectively in operative and carrying positions, a tapered portion on said butt member engaged by a tapered portion on said stick when mounted in operative position, and a tube se-` cured detachabiy to said butt member within which said stick may be enclosed.

LYNDGN C. COLE. 

